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Birkebeiner Event Canceled for the First Time

For the first time in its 28-year history, the American Birkebeiner cross-country ski race was canceled after warm weather turned much of the course to slush and stones.

The officials of North America's largest cross-country ski marathon, scheduled for today, first decided to drastically shorten the race, from 28.6 miles to 14.2 miles, because so much snow had melted away.

But late Friday afternoon, officials called the race off altogether.

''The organizers felt that the trail conditions just simply didn't allow them to complete the race,'' said Phil Van Valkenburg, sales and marketing director at Telemark resort at Cable, Wis., where race headquarters are situated.

He said the cancellation was the first for the Birkebeiner, although poor conditions caused the 1981 race to be postponed for two weeks. In 1998, warm weather forced organizers to shorten the course for one of the few times.

About 6,400 skiers had been expected. In addition to problems with the course, officials were concerned about getting through the terrain to any skiers in need of medical help.

''We could not overcome the weather conditions, and the medical director felt there were safety concerns on the course,'' Cherie Morgan, executive director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, said at a news conference.

''I think they probably did the right thing,'' said Ted Abrahamson of Racine. While some skiers had mixed feelings about the cancellation after traveling a long way to compete, ''at the same time they can't imagine standing at the starting line, looking at a field of slush and drizzle,'' Abrahamson said.